Since 1937, the United States presidential inauguration has included one or more prayers given by members of the clergy. Since 1933 an associated prayer service either public or private attended by the president-elect has often taken place on the morning of the day. At times a major public or broadcast prayer service takes place after the main ceremony most recently on the next day.
List of clergy at main ceremony January 20, 1937 inaugural of Franklin D. Roosevelt Invocation by Chaplain ZeBarney Thorne Phillips – Episcopalian, Chaplain of the United States Senate Benediction by Father John A. Ryan – Catholic, professor, Catholic University of America
January 20, 1941 inaugural of Franklin D. Roosevelt Invocation by Chaplain ZeBarney Phillips – Episcopalian Benediction by Father Michael J. Ready – Catholic, general secretary of the National Catholic Welfare Conference
January 20, 1945 inaugural of Franklin D. Roosevelt Invocation by Bishop Angus Dun – Episcopalian, Bishop of Washington Benediction by Monsignor John A. Ryan – Catholic
January 20, 1949 inaugural of Harry S. Truman Invocation by Rev. Edward Hughes Pruden – Baptist, First Baptist Church, Washington, D.C. Prayer by Rabbi Samuel Thurman – Jewish, United Hebrew Congregation, St. Louis, Missouri Benediction by Archbishop Patrick A. O’Boyle – Catholic, Archbishop of WashingtonOrder of Events. (1949, January 20). The Washington Post (1923–1954), p. C1. Retrieved October 16, 2010, from ProQuest Historical Newspapers The Washington Post (1877–1994). (Document ID: 234212532).
January 20, 1953 inaugural of Dwight D. Eisenhower Invocation by Archbishop Patrick A. O’Boyle – Catholic, Archbishop of Washington Prayer by Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver – Jewish Prayer by President Eisenhower Benediction by Rev. Henry Knox Sherrill – Episcopalian, Presiding Bishop
January 21, 1957 inaugural of Dwight D. Eisenhower Invocation by Rev. Edward L. R. Elson – Presbyterian, Chaplain of the United States Senate Prayer by Archbishop Michael (Konstantinides) – Orthodox, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Prayer by Rabbi Louis Finkelstein – Jewish Benediction by Cardinal Edward Mooney – Catholic, Archbishop of Detroit
January 20, 1961 inaugural of John F. Kennedy Invocation by Cardinal Richard Cushing – Catholic, Archbishop of Boston Prayer by Archbishop Iakovos (Koukouzis) – Orthodox, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Prayer by Rev. Dr. John Barclay – Disciples of Christ, pastor of the Central Christian Church of Austin, Texas Benediction by Rabbi Nelson Glueck – Jewish
January 20, 1965 inaugural of Lyndon B. Johnson Invocation by Archbishop Robert E. Lucey – Catholic, Archbishop of San Antonio Prayer by Rabbi Hyman Judah Schachtel – Jewish, Congregation Beth Israel of Houston Prayer by Rev. Dr. George R. Davis – Disciples of Christ Benediction by Archbishop Iakovos (Koukouzis) – Orthodox, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
January 20, 1969 inaugural of Richard Nixon Invocation by Rev. Charles Ewbank Tucker – African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, bishop Prayer by Rabbi Edgar F. Magnin – Jewish, Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Los Angeles Prayer by Archbishop Iakovos (Koukouzis) – Orthodox, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Prayer by Rev. Billy Graham – Southern Baptist, text of Billy Graham prayer 1969 Benediction by Archbishop Terence J. Cooke – Catholic, Archbishop of New York
January 20, 1973 inaugural of Richard M. Nixon Invocation by Rev. E. V. Hill, National Baptist Convention, pastor of the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles Prayer by Rabbi Seymour Siegel – Jewish, professor, Jewish Theological Seminary Prayer by Archbishop Iakovos (Koukouzis) – Orthodox, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Benediction by Archbishop Terence J. Cooke – Catholic, Archbishop of New York
January 20, 1977 inaugural of Jimmy Carter Invocation by Bishop William Cannon – United Methodist Benediction by Archbishop John R. Roach – Catholic
January 20, 1981 inaugural of Ronald Reagan Invocation by Rev. Donn Moomaw – Presbyterian, pastor of Bel Air Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles Benediction by Rev. Donn Moomaw
January 21, 1985 inaugural of Ronald Reagan Invocation by Rev. Timothy S. Healy – Catholic, president of Georgetown University Prayer by Rabbi Alfred Gottschalk – Jewish, president of the Hebrew Union College Prayer by Rev. Donn Moomaw – Presbyterian Benediction by Rev. Peter Gomes – Baptist, chaplain, Harvard University
January 20, 1989 inaugural of George H. W. Bush Invocation by Rev. Billy Graham – Southern Baptist, text of invocation 1989 Benediction by Rev. Billy Graham
January 20, 1993 inaugural of Bill Clinton Invocation by Rev. Billy Graham – Southern Baptist, text of invocation 1993 Benediction by Rev. Billy Graham
January 20, 1997 inaugural of Bill Clinton Invocation by Rev. Billy Graham – Southern Baptist, text of invocation 1997 Benediction by Rev. Gardner C. Taylor – Baptist
January 20, 2001 inaugural of George W. Bush Invocation by Rev. Franklin Graham – Southern Baptist, text of invocation and benediction 2001 Benediction by Pastor Kirbyjon H. Caldwell – United Methodist
January 20, 2005 inaugural of George W. Bush Invocation by Rev. Luis León – Episcopalian, rector St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square, Washington, D.C.(Text of Invocation) Benediction by Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell – United Methodist, Senior Pastor of Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas(Text of Benediction)
January 20, 2009 inaugural of Barack Obama Invocation by Rev. Dr. Rick Warren – Baptist, Pastor of the Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, California Benediction by Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery – United Methodist
January 21, 2013 inaugural of Barack Obama
Invocation by Myrlie Evers-Williams, the first woman and non-clergy to deliver an inaugural prayer. Benediction by Rev. Dr. Luis León – Episcopalian, fourteenth rector of St. John's Church. Pastor Louie Giglio had originally been tapped by the inaugural committee but withdrew amid controversy regarding a sermon perceived by some as anti-gay he had delivered in the 1990s.
January 20, 2017 inauguration of Donald Trump Invocation by Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan – Catholic, Archbishop of New York Invocation by Rev. Dr. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Leadership Conference Invocation by Pastor Paula White, Senior Pastor, New Destiny Christian Center Benediction by Rabbi Marvin Hier – Jewish, dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center Benediction by Rev. Franklin Graham – Southern Baptist, president of Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Benediction by Bishop Wayne T. Jackson, Great Faith Ministries International
January 20, 2021 inauguration of Joseph R. Biden Jr. Invocation by Rev. Leo J. O'Donovan, S.J. – Catholic, former president of Georgetown University Benediction by Rev. Silvester S. Beaman – African Methodist Episcopal, pastor of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Wilmington, Delaware
January 20, 2025 inauguration of Donald Trump Invocation by Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan – Catholic, Archbishop of New York Invocation by Rev. Franklin Graham – Southern Baptist, president of Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Benediction by Rabbi Ari Berman – Jewish, president of Yeshiva University Benediction by Pastor Lorenzo Sewell, senior pastor of the 180 Church in Detroit Benediction by Rev. Frank Mann – Catholic, retired priest at St. Sebastian Roman Catholic Church in Queens, New York
Associated morning prayer service Presidents since 1933 have often worshipped privately before the inauguration ceremony. 1933 – Franklin Roosevelt attend a service at St. John's Episcopal Church in the morning (Saturday) before being sworn in. 1937 – Franklin Roosevelt attended a service at St. John's Episcopal Church in the morning (Wednesday) before being sworn in. 1941 – Franklin Roosevelt attended a service at St. John's Episcopal Church in the morning (Wednesday) before being sworn in. 1945 – Franklin Roosevelt had a private service in the White House. 1949 – Harry Truman attended a service at St. John's Episcopal Church in the morning (Thursday) before being sworn in. 1953 – Dwight Eisenhower attended a service at National Presbyterian Church in the morning (Tuesday) before being sworn in. 1957 – Dwight Eisenhower attended a service at National Presbyterian Church (Sunday) before being sworn in privately. He was publicly sworn in the next day. 1961 – John F. Kennedy attended Catholic Mass at Holy Trinity Church. 1965 – Lyndon Johnson attended a private service at National City Christian Church in the morning (Wednesday) before being sworn in. Billy Graham gave a sermon. 1969 – Richard Nixon had a prayer breakfast in the State Department 1973 – Richard Nixon had no prayer service. He did attend church the next day, a Sunday. There was also a White House Prayer Service with Billy Graham (sermon), Archbishop Joseph Bernardin, and Rabbi Edgar F. Magnin as speakers. 1977 – Jimmy Carter attended a private service at First Baptist Church 1981 – Ronald Reagan attended a private service at St. John's Episcopal Church. Speakers included Billy Graham. 1985 – Ronald Reagan attended a private service a morning prayer service at Washington National Cathedral before taking the presidential oath at the White House on Sunday, January 20. Speakers included Billy Graham. He attended a private service at St. John's Episcopal Church before his public swearing in at the Capitol on Monday, January 21. 1989 - George H. W. Bush attended a private service at St. John's Episcopal Church. 1993 - Bill Clinton attended a private service at Metropolitan AME Church 1997 - Bill Clinton attended a private service at Metropolitan AME Church 2001 – George W. Bush attended a private service at St. John's Episcopal Church on January 20 2009 – Barack Obama attended a private service at St. John's Episcopal Church 2013 – Barack Obama attended a private service at St. John's Episcopal Church on the morning of Monday, January 21, immediately before his public inaugural ceremony. (He had privately been sworn in the previous day.) 2017 – Donald Trump attended a private service at St. John's Episcopal Church 2021 – Joe Biden attended a private Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. Fr. Kevin F. O'Brien, preached and presided. 2025 – Donald Trump attended a private service at St. John's Episcopal Church
Public prayer service
In 1789 George Washington along with Congress attended a service at St. Paul's Chapel in New York City after his swearing in. The ceremony was presided over by Bishop Samuel Provoost. No similar service is known until 1933.
Sunday, March 5, 1933 "National Inaugural Prayer Service" at Washington National Cathedral. Presided over by Episcopal Bishop James Edward Freeman of Washington.
Thursday, January 20, 1977 Jimmy Carter ordered a half-hour interfaith prayer service at the Lincoln Memorial in the morning (8am) before the inauguration ceremony; he did not attend. Speakers included Martin Luther King Sr., father of Martin Luther King Jr. Rev. Bruce Edwards, Plains, Georgia Ruth Carter Stapleton Leontyne Price and Sherrill Milnes sang
1981 Ronald Reagan had a service at National City Christian Church on Thomas Circle, Washington, D.C., but he did not attend.
Sunday, January 20, 1985 Ronald Reagan had a public service at the Washington National Cathedral. Speakers included Billy Graham gave a sermon
Sunday, January 22, 1989 George H. W. Bush attended a Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service at the Washington National Cathedral the day after his swearing in. John T. Walker, Episcopal Bishop of Washington presided Charles A. Perry, Cathedral Provost, officiated Sermons were given by Peter Gomes, Harvard Chaplain John Ashcroft, governor of Missouri Edmond Lee Browning, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church Other participants included